CFE agenda 051319 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Attachment 4 WHEREAS, this policy is projected to reduce America's emissions by at least 40% in the first 12 years, improve health and save lives by reducing air pollution, put money in consumers' pockets that would more than offset higher fuel prices for most Americans, and stimulate the economy and create a projected 2.1 million new jobs; and WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has specifically considered the economic impact on those residents of Orange County who may be most vulnerable to an increase in fuel prices, including both rural residents and low-income residents, and has found that a 2016 economic impact study projects that such legislation would provide a net financial benefit to the majority of rural and low-income households in America, due to the dividend; and WHEREAS, considering these positive projected environmental and economic impacts, the Orange County Board of Commissioners concludes that, in addition to local measures in support of the September 5, 2017 and January 22, 2019 resolutions, a market-based, revenue- neutral carbon fee-and-dividend program at the federal level, like that set forth in the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, appears to be a fair and effective means to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby approve of the following: SECTION 1. Orange County, North Carolina supports the concept of federal carbon fee- and-dividend legislation like that envisioned by the "Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act" that would levy an annually increasing revenue-neutral fee on fossil fuels at the point of production and importation, and that would be sufficient to: (i) accelerate the phasing out of fossil fuels and corresponding reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions; (ii) make the transition from fossil fuels less onerous to consumers and to the economy by returning net revenues gained from the fee to Americans on an equitable basis; and (iii) encourage similar actions by other nations trading with the United States and protect U.S. manufacturers and jobs by imposing suitable border carbon adjustments on imported and exported goods. SECTION 2. This resolution is effective upon adoption and shall be sent to the County's federal delegation. This the XXth day of XXXXXX, 2019. Penny Rich, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners 2